The Continent Hotel

Central Bangkok has had a few ups and downs this year and The Continent Hotel is situated right next to the Asoke junction that was transformed into a sit-in protest site for a few months. With that now cleared, normal service has resumed and The Continent does a fine job of providing a luxury hotel with all the trimmings in a fairly compact neck of the woods.

Its signature Italian restaurant, Medinii, offers sweeping views over Sukhumvit and even as far as Sathorn and the river. The menu offers an intriguing mix – there’s traditional Italian produce and flavours but the presentation and technique is decidedly modern. For example, the pan-seared foie gras (B450) comes with an apple compote and cherry sauce, delivering a welcome fruity offset to the richness of the pate.

There’s also a brilliant guazzetto (B520), which is a soupy Italian stew that comes with scallop, shrimp, mussels and crab meat, seasoned with white wine and fresh herbs. The seafood retains its delicate flavours despite the overall effect being richer and more satisfying.

Among the mains, try the beef tenderloin (B660), served here with ratatouille, sauteed vegetables and black tapenade sauce. Equally, the roasted duck breast (B660) comes with wilted spinach, young potatoes and raspberry sauce. Again, Medinii’s modern ambitions are on display, with that sauce smeared artistically to one side of the plate. Stick around for the desserts as well. The creme brulee (B270), with Grand Marnier and Madagascar vanilla is exquisite.

After dinner, head up to Axis & Spin for a cocktail. They’ve got some cracking options, including the Golden Aster Martini (B260), which combines bourbon, white vermouth, aperol, saffron, lemon and chilli. It’s quite a mouthful but there are some really interesting flavours working together.

For something fruity and refreshing, try the Nashi Momo (B260), a combination of vodka, peach liqueur, pear, coconut and guava juice. Another interesting drink is the Chun Tian (B260), with white vermouth, cognac, limoncello, ginger bitters, peppermint bitters, cinammon and passionfruit. Some
of these are pretty complicated but they’re inevitably wellbalanced and presented with flair.

Overall, it’s hard to imagine an urban retreat executed with greater panache than at The Continent.